Sheriff calls for rational debate on gun violence

McDonald addresses Henderson County 9-12 Project at library

By GARY GLANCYTimes-News Correspondent

Published: Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 5:51 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 5:51 p.m.

Henderson County Sheriff Charlie McDonald called Saturday for a “serious, rational debate” on effective methods of curbing gun violence, and said it's too soon to know the local impact of executive orders the president signed this week.

McDonald joined Buncombe County gun manufacturer Ryan Croft as guest speakers for a two-hour Second Amendment discussion in Kaplan Auditorium at the main Henderson County Library on Saturday morning. The event, attended by about 50 mostly pro-gun citizens, was hosted by the Henderson County 9-12 Project, a nonprofit, conservative Christian community group in Western North Carolina.

“Until I am tasked with doing something specific as a sheriff that is illegal or against the Constitution, we can sit here and argue about what-ifs, but nobody has come to my door,” McDonald said of President Barack Obama's orders.

“I don't have federal agents lining up asking me to task my deputies to do things that are unconstitutional, and I'll tell you I'll not do it … I'm not going to talk in theories (about) things that haven't happened,” McDonald added.

The sheriff, however, did reiterate his opposition to gun control voiced in a Times-News article last week, which he said has generated “an awful lot of phone calls and texts.”

“We don't know what we're going to be tasked to do as sheriffs, but I believe in the Constitution and I certainly believe in defending the Second Amendment of the Constitution for our citizens,” he said.

However, the sheriff added that too many people on both sides of the issue base their stances on inaccuracies circulated by the media and various online sources, as well as intense emotion. McDonald said a “serious, rational debate” based on facts will be necessary to achieve effective methods of confronting gun violence.

“I see it on both sides – people get so spun up,” he said. “Catch phrases and buzzwords are great, but we don't need mob mentality and I won't take it from either side.”

Wait-and-see approach

McDonald said he has spoken with several friends in the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association. The consensus is to wait and see how potential impacts of the executive orders will play out before the organization reacts.

He said lawyers will be looking at the situation and “figuring out what are the interests and the opinions of the sheriffs” before issuing a statement.

He added that the sheriffs “believe in a lot of the same things you guys do, too,” referring to the pro-gun rights supporters in the audience.

“I definitely support the Constitution and the Second Amendment, and I'm kind of upset with what the president is doing here – I don't think he supports it,” Hendersonville resident Bob Edmondson said. “I'm just curious to see what is going to happen here. You have to listen to all the different viewpoints, and listen and learn. The sheriff had a good point: You listen to the pros and cons on each side and come to a sensible agreement.”

Gun maker's concerns

Croft, meanwhile, strongly criticized the president's impending orders, wondering aloud how they will play out within the context of local law enforcement. Calling McDonald the “highest legal authority in the county” who heads “the key American office, period,” Croft said citizens rely on the confidence they have in their sheriff to live their lives.

“But where are the lines for you?” Croft asked McDonald. “And what is next if those lines get blurred, not by you but by outside entities? What you should be able to say is, ‘I'm the highest legal authority here and this is my stand, this is what I will enforce.'”

Croft specifically attacked Obama's plan to clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors from asking their patients about guns in their homes.

“These (executive orders) right here, this is gun control in the one of the most nefarious ways that we've ever seen because it doesn't require people like you to actually knock on doors,” Croft said. “It turns our doctors into deputies.”

McDonald said he has no plans to “deputize doctors.”

School security

Answering a question from the audience about the National Rifle Association's suggestion to put armed officers in schools, the sheriff said that would not be feasible because of staff limitations. Stepping up training for school staff during emergencies would be a more reasonable alternative, he said.

“If I put three deputies in every single school, I can't guarantee somebody's not going to get killed,” McDonald said. “Even the NRA, and I'm a member, doesn't get it right all the time. I don't think right now with the economy we can do that. But I can tell you as sheriff, we are putting things in place.

“Our patrol guys and detectives are looking into ways to be in schools on a non-routine but committed basis,” McDonald said, “but we can't be there all the time.”

<p>Henderson County Sheriff Charlie McDonald called Saturday for a “serious, rational debate” on effective methods of curbing gun violence, and said it's too soon to know the local impact of executive orders the president signed this week.</p><p>McDonald joined Buncombe County gun manufacturer Ryan Croft as guest speakers for a two-hour Second Amendment discussion in Kaplan Auditorium at the main Henderson County Library on Saturday morning. The event, attended by about 50 mostly pro-gun citizens, was hosted by the Henderson County 9-12 Project, a nonprofit, conservative Christian community group in Western North Carolina.</p><p>“Until I am tasked with doing something specific as a sheriff that is illegal or against the Constitution, we can sit here and argue about what-ifs, but nobody has come to my door,” McDonald said of President Barack Obama's orders. </p><p>“I don't have federal agents lining up asking me to task my deputies to do things that are unconstitutional, and I'll tell you I'll not do it … I'm not going to talk in theories (about) things that haven't happened,” McDonald added.</p><p>The sheriff, however, did reiterate his opposition to gun control voiced in a Times-News article last week, which he said has generated “an awful lot of phone calls and texts.”</p><p>“We don't know what we're going to be tasked to do as sheriffs, but I believe in the Constitution and I certainly believe in defending the Second Amendment of the Constitution for our citizens,” he said.</p><p>However, the sheriff added that too many people on both sides of the issue base their stances on inaccuracies circulated by the media and various online sources, as well as intense emotion. McDonald said a “serious, rational debate” based on facts will be necessary to achieve effective methods of confronting gun violence.</p><p>“I see it on both sides – people get so spun up,” he said. “Catch phrases and buzzwords are great, but we don't need mob mentality and I won't take it from either side.”</p><h3>Wait-and-see approach</h3>
<p>McDonald said he has spoken with several friends in the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association. The consensus is to wait and see how potential impacts of the executive orders will play out before the organization reacts. </p><p>He said lawyers will be looking at the situation and “figuring out what are the interests and the opinions of the sheriffs” before issuing a statement.</p><p>He added that the sheriffs “believe in a lot of the same things you guys do, too,” referring to the pro-gun rights supporters in the audience.</p><p>“I definitely support the Constitution and the Second Amendment, and I'm kind of upset with what the president is doing here – I don't think he supports it,” Hendersonville resident Bob Edmondson said. “I'm just curious to see what is going to happen here. You have to listen to all the different viewpoints, and listen and learn. The sheriff had a good point: You listen to the pros and cons on each side and come to a sensible agreement.”</p><h3>Gun maker's concerns</h3>
<p>Croft, meanwhile, strongly criticized the president's impending orders, wondering aloud how they will play out within the context of local law enforcement. Calling McDonald the “highest legal authority in the county” who heads “the key American office, period,” Croft said citizens rely on the confidence they have in their sheriff to live their lives.</p><p>“But where are the lines for you?” Croft asked McDonald. “And what is next if those lines get blurred, not by you but by outside entities? What you should be able to say is, 'I'm the highest legal authority here and this is my stand, this is what I will enforce.'”</p><p>Croft specifically attacked Obama's plan to clarify that the Affordable Care Act does not prohibit doctors from asking their patients about guns in their homes.</p><p>“These (executive orders) right here, this is gun control in the one of the most nefarious ways that we've ever seen because it doesn't require people like you to actually knock on doors,” Croft said. “It turns our doctors into deputies.”</p><p>McDonald said he has no plans to “deputize doctors.”</p><h3>School security</h3>
<p>Answering a question from the audience about the National Rifle Association's suggestion to put armed officers in schools, the sheriff said that would not be feasible because of staff limitations. Stepping up training for school staff during emergencies would be a more reasonable alternative, he said. </p><p>“If I put three deputies in every single school, I can't guarantee somebody's not going to get killed,” McDonald said. “Even the NRA, and I'm a member, doesn't get it right all the time. I don't think right now with the economy we can do that. But I can tell you as sheriff, we are putting things in place. </p><p>“Our patrol guys and detectives are looking into ways to be in schools on a non-routine but committed basis,” McDonald said, “but we can't be there all the time.”</p>